Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40474256›Full record

ArticleScandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine2025

Spinal cord injury in severely injured patients: results from the Swiss Trauma Registry.

Nader Hejrati, Felix C Stengel, Michael G Fehlings, Christian Maschmann, Martin N Stienen, Kai O Jensen, Swiss Trauma Registry

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Danshen (Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026
    Pooled it
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Nader HejratiDepartment of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, HOCH Health Ostschweiz & University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland. nader.hejrati@gmail.com.
Felix C StengelDepartment of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, HOCH Health Ostschweiz & University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Michael G FehlingsInstitute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
Christian MaschmannEmergency Department NFZ, HOCH Health Ostschweiz, Health & University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Martin N StienenDepartment of Neurosurgery, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen, HOCH Health Ostschweiz & University of St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Kai O JensenDepartment of Traumatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Swiss Trauma Registry

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesTraumatic spinal cord injuries (SCIs) in the context of severe trauma are rare, and patient demographics are infrequently reported. This study aimed to assess patient demographics in acute traumatic SCI in the context of severe injuries in Switzerland and to evaluate differences in demographics and outcomes stratified by timing of surgery.

methodsWe analyzed data from the Swiss Trauma Registry (STR) from 2015 to 2024. The STR includes patients with major trauma (injury severity score [ISS] ≥ 16 and/or abbreviated injury scale [AIS] head ≥ 3) admitted to any level-one trauma centre in Switzerland. We evaluated patient characteristics, complications, and hospital outcomes, which were further stratified by early (< 24 h) and late (≥ 24 h) surgery.

resultsAmong 24,328 patients, 6,819 (28%) sustained spinal injuries, and 383 (1.6%) had a concurrent SCI with an incidence of 0.44 cases per 100’000 inhabitants. The median age was 52 years (IQR 31–70) and 73.6% were male. The primary causes were falls (63.1%) and road traffic accidents (29.6%). The in-hospital mortality rate was 4.7%. Late surgery patients more often had concomitant moderate or severe traumatic brain injuries (31% vs. 14%, p = 0.009) and were more likely to have no fractures or dislocations of the spine (22.8% versus 6.8%, p = 0.001). Patients who underwent early surgery had shorter hospital stays (9d [5-16], versus 16 d [9-24]; F = 13.92, p < 0.001). Late surgery was associated with a higher likelihood of developing two and more complications (OR 2.57, 95% CI 1.18–5.63, p = 0.018), including urinary tract infections (OR 12.13, 95% CI 2.76–53.41, p = 0.001) and multiple organ failure (OR 12.99, 95% CI 1.64-102.83, p = 0.015).

conclusionsThis study offers insights into the characteristics and outcomes of acute SCI care in severely injured patients. Despite its low incidence, the acute management of this patient population remains highly challenging. Our findings suggest early stabilization of spinal injuries in severely injured patients may reduce hospital stays and complications.

Indexed as

RegistriesSpinal Cord InjuriesAdultAgedFemaleHospital MortalityHumansIncidenceInjury Severity ScoreMaleMiddle AgedSwitzerlandTrauma Centers

Identifiers

PMID40474256
PMCPMC12143103

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.